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Lake City, Florida: A Sesquicentennial Tribute (2009) H. Morris Williams, Dr. Kevin M. McCarthy
Chapter Fourteen: 1940 - 1949
That family of five was so poor that they were crowded into a
tiny house whose rent was only $14 a month. To support her family,
Estelle repaired mattresses in a small store on Railroad Street. But
Mother Estelle, a spirited, determined woman, dug in and instilled
such a wondrous spirit in her children that they all rose above their
dire circumstances and soared to successful lives.
Nadine became a secretary to a U. S. Congressman. Ben
became the Georgia junior college middleweight boxing champion
and a member of Florida State University’s national championship
gymnastics team. Bob became an All-American junior college football
player and led his team to the junior college national championship.
All this success thanks to their mother, Estelle, a magnificent woman
on whose tombstone are inscribed the words, “She was a tower of
strength.” Fred, her oldest, became a fine young man himself. He was
Hollywood movie star handsome; a humble Christian; an honor student;
MVP in high school football, basketball, and track; the holder of two
state records in track; student council president; and throughout high
school a worker at two jobs to help his family.
Fred Kinard is honored in the naming of a local street after him.
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